Emcee Keith Landry of Fox 35 welcomes surprise guest Mickey Mouse to the Orlando Walk Now for Autism!

Syndrome, played acoustic guitar and sang for the crowd. Walkers also enjoyed performances by the Arthur Murray Dance School, East Coast Martial Arts Academy and Bright Starz Twirlers. Members of the University of Central Florida Men's baseball, track and golf teams all came out to entertain the young walkers.

A number of local luminaries attended the Walk, including professional golfer and honorary Walk Chair Cliff Kresge, who addressed the crowd. His seven-year-old son, Mason, is on the spectrum. State Representative Dean Cannon, a fervent supporter of autism legislation, and Tamara Demko (Gov. Crist's Chief of Staff for Persons with Disabilities and ED of the Governor's Task Force on Autism) also addressed the crowd. William Todd, who represented platinum sponsor Nikken, spoke.

The Walk hosted a resource fair which showcased 35 companies and organizations including The Discovery Bus, a mobile school bus with a fully equipped gym and sensory room that travels to families' homes; the Orange County Public Schools Autism Task Force, which provided local administrators who answered questions about school services and programs; and Cnow, Inc., which provides in-home specialized services.

A number of generous sponsors contributed to the success of the Orlando Walk Now for Autism, especially platinum sponsor Nikken, which provided special Nikken water and shoe insoles which promote energy. Massey Services provided water bottles and coloring materials for children, while PAETEC contributed bouncy balls, pens and puzzle painting for young walkers. Walkers enjoyed gluten-free casein-free snacks and healthy treats from Whole Foods, as well as pizza, hot dogs and salads from Uno Chicago Grill.

Visit the Orlando Walk page or go to the Walk Now for Autism site to find a Walk in your area.